How to Commemorate Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month | Episode 011

As you may or may not know, October is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month and in this short episode I thought it would be helpful to share 7 simple ways to commemorate this special month. Whether you or someone you know has experienced the loss of a baby I am sure that this episode will be practically helpful to you - either in helping you to love and recognize someone who is grieving or in finding tangible ways to commemorate your own loss. I hope this episode brings freedom to your pain and hope as you feel seen and heard and remembered this month.

7 WAYS TO COMMEMORATE PREGNANCY & INFANT LOSS AWARENESS MONTH

1. LIGHT A CANDLE: October 15th is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Day. On this day it is tradition to light a candle at 7pm to honor babies in heaven and keep it burning for an hour. If you keep it burning for at least an hour there will be a continual wave of light across the world all day. This is a small act that anyone can do. If you are a grieving parent, invite your friends or family to light a candle in memory of your baby on this day at 7pm. If you are a friend or family member, share a photo or video of your candle burning with your friend, letting them know you lit a candle in memory of their baby. This is an incredibly meaningful way to say “I remember with you.” Additionally you can go to october15th.com to find specific candle lighting ceremonies that are taking place in your area. If there aren’t any scheduled events in your area and this sounds like something you would like to see happen, consider organizing such an event at a church or park or hospital to help bring light to the darkness and isolation of pregnancy and infant loss. 
2. PARTICIPATE IN AN EVENT: You can find specific events in your area that you could participate in with friends and family, events such as remembrance walks or butterfly releases. See what events are being hosted in your area by going to October15th.com. If there isn’t an event planned, you could plan a simple remembrance walk or butterfly release. Ideas and planning help can be found at the website above.
3. SHARE YOUR STORY ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Join along with our social share prompts each day by downloading the prompt guide below. Each day there is a prompt that will help you share your story and bring awareness to this often silent pain. And because sometimes words feel hard, I created several images specific to Pregnancy and Infant Loss that you can download and share, in case that feels easier. You can find those images below as well. This is a simple opportunity to share your story of life and loss with others, with words or without. If you are a friend or a family member of someone who has experienced pregnancy or infant loss, simply sharing one of those images and saying “I remember” means so much. For a grieving mama who feels like the world has moved on, this feels so important and is incredibly meaningful.
4. RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS: Do a random act of kindness in honor of your baby. Getting our eyes off of our own pain and looking for ways to bring light and hope to others will forever be one of the best medicines to a hurting heart. Pick a day and a few acts of kindness, you could even make little cards that say “random act of kindness in honor of my baby in heaven.” You could ask a friends and families to join in. Or you could simply buy someone a coffee and let them know you did so in honor of your baby in heaven or your friend who is grieving a miscarriage -- invite that person who benefited from your kindness to spread the kindness onward. You can find a few fun and doable random acts of kindness ideas listed below (as well as a card you can print out and use along with your random acts of kindness) or you can go to acts.kindness.org for more great ideas for showing random acts of kindness. 
5. SEND A CARD: Chances are you know someone who has also experienced pregnancy or infant loss. Send them a note letting them know that you are thinking of them and that you remember their loss. Reminding another mama that their baby is never forgotten is one of the sweetest ways to honor your own baby. There are free downloadable printable cards, linked below, I created just for this occasion.
6. DISPLAY THE PINK & BLUE RIBBON: Displaying the designated pink & blue Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Ribbon immediately brings attention to this special month. It provides an opportunity for people to ask what the ribbon is for and in turn an opportunity for you to share your story or to even simply say “October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month -- did you know that 1 in 4 pregnancies ends in miscarriage?” Wearing a ribbon whether in the form of a pin or actual ribbon or a even picture of a ribbon on a t-shirt or tying a ribbon on your front door or around a tree in your yard all provide a communication opportunity that will naturally bring awareness to pregnancy and infant loss. 
7. SEND AN AADENSAGE BIRTHDAY PROJECT PRINT:  Created to remind parents that their baby is never forgotten and forever loved, this special project is in honor of my son’s birthday in October and I love that it beautifully coincides with Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month. During the month of October I gift a special edition art print to grieving parents, just for the cost of shipping. You can read more about the Birthday Project here!

No matter how you decide to commemorate Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month -- whether publicly or privately, whether with a big event or simple candle lighting in the quiet of your home -- I hope that you know you are not alone. And you are seen and heard, remembered and loved. 

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SOCIAL SHARE PROMPTS

click to download pdf printable version

click here to connect with all those sharing #myjoyfulmourning

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SOCIAL SHARE IMAGES

click to see all 15 shareable images

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RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS IDEAS

click to download pdf printable random act of kindness cards

1. Drop off a plate of cookies at the nurses' station at the hospital
2. Buy lunch or coffee for the person behind you in line.
3. Tape change to a vending machine.
4. Drop off a toy or game at a homeless shelter.
5. Buy a $5 gift card at a store and hand it to someone coming in on your way out.
6. Leave a thank you note and treats in the mailbox for the mail carrier.
7. Send someone a small gift anonymously.
8. Tape a bag of microwave popcorn to a Redbox machine.
9. Bring flowers to your friend or a neighbor.
10. Write "You are beautiful" on a sticky note and leave it on a mirror in a publicbathroom.
11. Pay for the person behind you at the drive-thru.
12. Write encouraging post-its for strangers to find.
13. Pay someone a compliment.
14. Leave a bottle of laundry soap or put quarters in the machines at the laundromat.
15. Text a friend to say you’re thinking of them.
16. Drop off cookies at the public library, police station, fire station, etc.
17. Bring a treat to share with your coworkers.
18. Tuck a Starbucks gift card into a book at the bookstore.
19. Let someone cut in front of you in line.
20. Return a shopping cart to its proper place.
21. Donate $1 to the next tip jar you see.
22. Bring someone a coffee, just how they like it.
23. Buy someone a lottery scratch ticket.
24. Send a card or handwritten note to a friend.
25. Tape quarters to a gum-ball machine.
26. Bring in a neighbor’s trash bins.
27. Leave a used book in a cafe.
28. Tip your restaurant server generously.
29. Pick up the tab.
30. Make cards and mail them to the senior center.

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PRINTABLE PREGNANCY & INFANT LOSS AWARENESS CARDS

click to download pdf printable cards